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Photos: Everyday Heroes

Feb. 26, 2016

Celebrating the selfless efforts of McHenry County police, fire and rescue personnel.

[Matthew Apgar]

Joe Teson of Algonquin is a former Captain with the Algonquin-Lake In The Hills Fire Department. Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com

[H. Rick Bamman]

William Husfield of Crystal Lake begins his shift in Streamwood. Husfield is a 26 year veteran of the Streamwood Police department. During his tenure he is highly requested by the schools to talk to the children during careers week, and consistently goes above and beyond in his duties as an officer. He was honored in 2015 with a medal of commendation, for saving the life of a Streamwood woman. H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com

[Sarah Nader]

Jerry Schillaci, a McHenry firefighter paramedic is an instructor for the Learn Not To Burn elementary fire prevention program. Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com

[Matthew Apgar]

Huntley Fire Chief Ken Caudle is in his fourth year as the chief of the Huntley Fire Protection District, an agency that serves 60,000 residents over 55 square miles. Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com

[Sarah Nader]

Fire Academy Director Wes Crain inside the training tower at McHenry County College. Wesley Crain tells his students the day they stop learning, they need to retire from the fire service. Crain, fire science instructor at McHenry County College and a full-time Glenview Fire Department lieutenant, said he's always wanted to be an instructor. For the past 25 years, he's taught introductory fire science courses at MCC. Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com

[Sarah Nader]

Crystal Lake Police Sgt. Mike Bennett has shoveled driveways, changed tires and even stopped traffic on Route 31 to help a mother goose and her goslings get across the busy roadway. Bennett was instrumental in raising funds to buy Laura Johnson a new puppy last summer after her former puppy died during a drunk driving crash. Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com

[Sarah Nader]

Theresa Harper is the "go-to" person when someone needs help with something – really, anything – said McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy Aimee Knop, who has known Harper for years after Harper took her under her wing when Knop first moved to the area. Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com

[Sarah Nader]

Sgt. Daniel Kreassig is not one of those guys who started dreaming in boyhood of growing up to become a police officer. “I wanted to be a high school teacher and coach football,” he said, reflecting recently on his 27th year with the McHenry Police Department. “I was privileged, though, to be the department’s first high school resource officer.” Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com

[Matthew Apgar]

The woman called Huntley Police Sgt. Linda Hooten after every court hearing to detail the steps she was taking to get away from the man she'd been stuck with in a domestic violence situation for years. She said she was finally going to get him to stop, Hooten recalled.
“It was so great to see that,” Hooten said. “Because I also see the other side, where they're not ready to leave and they keep going back. To hear the confidence in her voice, it was great. I was her cheerleader.” Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com

[Sarah Nader]

When David Eeg finishes his shifts as a battalion chief at the Huntley Fire Protection District, he goes home and helps run another crew: the six children he is raising with his wife, Kate. Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com

[Sarah Nader]

Between working the midnight shift at the McHenry Police Department and spending the day working with McHenry County Police Charities, teaching classes and spending time with his family, John Adams doesn't get much sleep. Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com

Photos: Everyday Heroes

Celebrating the selfless efforts of McHenry County police, fire and rescue personnel.